Red Bull Advisor Helmut Marko has issued an update regarding the uncertain future of Sergio Perez at the Milton Keynes-based Formula 1 team.
Perez’s future at Red Bull has been hanging in the balance due to a torrid run of form in the latter half of the 2024 F1 campaign.
Heading into the summer break, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner and Marko gave the Mexican a reprieve, but there has been little uptick in results since then.
From the Dutch GP onwards, Perez scored a paltry 21 points across 10 rounds, prompting end-of-season talks to determine his fate.
In his regular Speedweek column, Marko revealed that a decision on whether Perez stays or goes is imminent.
“We will be announcing news on the driver pairing for next year in the next few days,” Marko said.
Making things difficult for Red Bull is the fact it jumped the gun early and handed Perez a multi-year contract extension in June.
There’s speculation Perez could serve his contract in an ambassadorial role if Red Bull decides to drop him from the seat alongside Max Verstappen.
Moreover, given the Mexican’s lucrative contract and significant financial backing, there are rumours he is demanding an excessive buy-out fee in the region of $20 million.
“There’s a lot of speculation about this,” wrote Marko. “Including rumours about possible transfer fees, which are complete nonsense.”
What is clear, however, is Perez’s points tally of 152, 285 behind world champion team-mate Verstappen, caused Red Bull to slip to third in the Constructors’ Championship.
This cost Red Bull significant prize money and team staff bonuses, something that will need to be averted in the future.
Who is in line to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull?
For some time it has looked like Red Bull will overlook RB’s Yuki Tsunoda if Perez agrees to vacate his seat.
Instead, New Zealander Liam Lawson is odds on to be promoted to partner Verstappen.
However, Tsunoda’s chances may have improved at the 11th hour as he was able to test a Red Bull machine at long last in Abu Dhabi last Tuesday.
Tsunoda believes he “impressed” Red Bull with his technical feedback and Marko also wrote about the Japanese driver in his column.
“Yuki was allowed onto the track with the RB20 during the post-season test and the team was happy with his technical feedback.
“In this respect, he is much better than what is said about him.”
Whether that is enough to promote Tsunoda ahead of Lawson remains to be seen, only if Perez does actually vacate his seat at Red Bull.
If that is to be the case, a seat at RB will need filling, with 2024 FIA Formula 2 runner-up Isack Hadjar the obvious candidate as the highest ranking member of the Red Bull Junior Driver programme.
READ MORE – Max Verstappen: Sergio Perez is ‘not an idiot’ amid 2024 Red Bull F1 struggles
